Chapter Thirty-Five
The village was visible up ahead, as Nessie and Jacob continued their journey through the barren fields of snow and wind.
Nessie was still receiving vivid images of the battle, clutching tighter and tighter to the dagger in her pocket with every devastating image. Jacob plowed on through the torrential snow, which whipped angrily at his face the faster he ran. He was not going to allow anything to hinder him now, for Nessie's sake.
Tears were streaming down Nessie's cold cheeks as the images before her eyes began intensifying, displaying her family members locked into brutal combat. Rosalie was writhing in agony across the snow... Emmett's arms were being twisted in half by two members of the Volturi... there were more limbs, cold and dead, flying into large flames as family members screamed beside them... Emmett hit the ground, a looming figure biting down on his face... Jasper was shouting... a dagger was scratched across the eye of a beautiful blonde... Leah was flung to the snow, howling in pain... Seth was whipped across the face...
Alice lay helpless in the snow, one of the largest blades Nessie had ever seen jutting through her entire body.
She could not hold it in any longer. Nessie let out a hideous scream, throwing herself from Jacob's back, and crashing to the ground below. She could hear as Jacob stopped running, turning around just as quickly. She had to move fast.
Nessie grabbed the dagger from her pocket, continuing to sob as she held it up, aiming it directly at her own heart.
"Renesmee, don't do it."
The dagger fell from Nessie's hand instantly, hitting the snow with a dull thud. It was not Jacob's voice that pleaded with her.
"Luke?"
The visions were becoming sparse, and Nessie was able to see the tall, muscular figure of Luke kneeling only feet away, staring at her intently. Jacob stood, just as stunned, several feet behind Luke.
Luke quickly ran forward, snatching the dagger up out of the snow, though Nessie made no move to grab it back, merely continuing to stare at Luke in awe. The entire field was overwhelmed with silence as Nessie, Jacob and Luke remained frozen, all staring at each other cautiously.
"You called me Renesmee," Nessie finally uttered, still staring at Luke.
Luke nodded, carefully sliding the dagger into his belt as he stepped again towards Nessie.
"I know a lot about you, Renesmee Cullen," he said.
"Who are you?" Jacob demanded, instantly at Nessie's side, wrapping a protective arm around her.
"I'm exactly who I say I am," Luke replied calmly. "I just left out a few details."
"What kind of details?" Jacob demanded. "Who are you working for? What do you want from us?"
"My name is Lucas Otere, and I am a Lieutenant in the New World Force, second in command to General Seth Clearwater," Luke rattled off, almost robotically. "Ever since I turned fifteen, I have been an active soldier in the New World Force, under the command of Major General Connor Black. When I was seventeen, I was assigned to General Clearwater's regiment. Our main goal is the protection and preservation of Major General Black, as he is constantly being hunted by conspirators of both the human and vampiric persuasion."
"What are you saying?" Jacob asked, staring at Luke in utter confusion. "What does all of this mean? Who are you?"
"I am the only son of Leah Clearwater and Nahuel Otere. I will be born on August 2nd, 2013. On November 23rd, 2035, Major General Connor Black will ask me to travel back in time to April, 2009, where I am to reside just outside of Germany. On the evening of April 31st, I am to drive down the only road bordering a remote village in the center of Austria, and pick up the five teenagers that I will find wandering through the snow. My mission is to make sure that Major General Black's mother, Renesmee Cullen, fails at any attempts to take her own life."
The silence returned as Nessie and Jacob continued to stare at the young man before them in disbelief, his words left hanging in the air around them.
"Then... you're from the... the future?" Nessie was finally able to squeak, her voice little more than a raspy whisper, after her fit of screams and long moments of stunned silence.
"Yes," Luke replied, nodding. "I'm a soldier in the army run by your son. The child that you're pregnant with right now."
Nessie's hand dropped to her stomach quickly, and Jacob tightened his grasp around her shoulders, as they both gazed down at the small bump before them.
"Our son has an army?" Nessie asked, turning her attention back to Luke.
"He is one of the greatest political figures of the New World," Luke said. "After the Cullens' destruction of the Volturi monarchy in 2009, Dr. Carlisle Cullen comes out as the first vampire advocate in the human world - breaching the gap that the Volturi created between the two worlds centuries before. The existence of vampires and werewolves is revealed to the humans in the year 2020, and Dr. Cullens' granddaughter, Renesmee, becomes the first leader of the human-vampire coalition force, created by Dr. Cullen and his sons to prevent hate crimes caused by those who disagree with the new coexistence of humans and mythical beings.
"Renesmee and her husband, Jacob Black, train their son Connor to take their place at the head of the coalition once he reaches the age of eighteen, as it was prophesized that he would step up as a savior to the New World after the Volturi are killed."
"You mean, our son is meant to save this... New World?" Jacob asked.
"Yes," Luke confirmed. "The prophecy was misinterpreted for thousands of years, almost resulting in Major General Black's death. You see, there was a fourth wall of the prophecy that was unfortunately paved over in the year 1413, as means of preventing thieves from entering the room. Only vampires had the strength to break through the paved wall, but the last portion of the prophecy remained covered - the part that revealed that the child in question was brought into this world to prevent the thousands of deaths that were occurring during his mother's pregnancy, and his own birth.
"The prophecy states that a child, born in a time of great conflict, is destined to bring about the end of all the death and fighting in this world. The true meaning behind the prophecy was revealed thanks to Dr. Cullen's discovery and perfection of time-traveling dark magic in the year 2025."
"They were wrong," Nessie uttered, as she stroked her hand down her rounded stomach.
"Major General Black's life has always been greatly at stake due to those who disagree with the coalition, and those who still believe in the prophecy's original interpretation," Luke explained sadly. "But his parents are highly trained in combat and defense, and Connor has always been well protected, especially by General Clearwater."
"Seth is part of this coalition too?" Nessie asked.
"My uncle is one of the greatest fighters of our time. He's been Connor's protector and best friend ever since he was born," Luke explained.
"Your uncle..." Jacob repeated curiously, before staring up at Luke in shock. "You said you were the son of who?"
"Leah Clearwater and Nahuel Otere," Luke replied.
"Leah and Nahuel?" Nessie repeated, just as stunned as Jacob.
"Does that mean Leah imprinted on him?" Jacob asked. Luke shook his head.
"My parents have always been regarded as odd, because they fell in love without the power of imprinting. My mother has never imprinted on any man, and my father adores her with all his heart," he explained.
Jacob took Nessie's hand, squeezing it tightly in his own as they allowed all of the new information Luke had given them to sink in.
"I can't believe it. All this time, you knew who we were," Nessie said. "You knew exactly what we were doing."
"I've been following you for a while, actually," Luke said. "I planted the atlas that my father found in your room, that led him, my mother and my uncle to the mountains. I pretended to be a hunter in the village in Germany and told stories of the 'monster wolves', so as to lead your family to Austria. The hunters that my mother thought she saw in the mountains that made you all flee here – that was me too."
"So Connor sent you back here weeks ago," Nessie realized.
"Rose traveled back even earlier than I did," Luke added.
"Who's Rose?" Jacob asked, frowning.
"The white wolf that you were seeing," Luke said, smiling slightly as he turned to Nessie. "That was Rose - your daughter."
"What?" Nessie uttered, staring at Luke in confusion.
"On December 5th, 2015, Renesmee Cullen and Jacob Black have a second child, a daughter named Rose. At the age of seventeen, Rose becomes Commander in Chief of the New World Force's shapeshifters division," Luke rattled off.
"Shapeshifters?" Jacob repeated.
"Rose is a shapeshifter, like yourself and the pack," Luke offered. "I am too. Most children of the wolves are, though Rose and I are unique, since we only carry half of the shapeshifters genetic makeup. Rose can transform into a small white wolf, and I become a brown one."
"So Connor sent Rose to Forks last Halloween, to guide me to Enterprise?" Nessie asked.
"No, Rose took that upon herself. Major General Black was none too pleased. And General Clearwater was furious," Luke said.
"Why was Seth so angry?" Jacob asked.
Luke hesitated for the first time since he had begun his explanation of the Cullens' future, an almost uncomfortable look crossing his face.
"My uncle, Seth Clearwater... will imprint on your daughter after she's born, six years from now," Luke blurted out.
"Seth imprints on my daughter?" Jacob cried, leaping to his feet suddenly in a moment of stunned passion.
"He's very good to her," Luke continued quickly. "And Rose really loves him. They're engaged to be married-"
"Seth is marrying my daughter?" Jacob shouted.
"Which is why Major General Black decided to send me here to find all of you," Luke interrupted quickly. "My uncle offered, but Connor didn't want to separate him from Rose, especially knowing how dangerous the mission would be. So I volunteered, and Connor chose me to complete the task."
"My son sent you all the way here... to stop me from killing him," Nessie uttered, as the horrifying truth behind that statement suddenly hit her.
"Connor's aware that you both knew nothing of the true prophecy, and he doesn't blame you for acting as you did, especially considering Alice," Luke said sadly.
"Is she...?" Nessie trailed off, unable to ask the question.
"Not yet," Luke replied, "but you need to listen to me carefully. Edward Cullen is going to appear at this very location only minutes from now. You both need to go with him back to the battlefield. Once you get there, Renesmee must pull the Sword of Lilith from Alice's wound - only Renesmee. Do not let anyone else touch her."
"Why?" Nessie asked. "Why only me?"
"Because Alice has an ability that is preventing the sword from killing her, and Connor will carry that same ability," Luke explained. "The power must be transferred to your son before anything can happen."
"I don't under-" Nessie began.
"I have to go now," Luke said, looking around quickly, as he began backing away from Nessie and Jacob.
"Luke!" Nessie cried.
"You are the strongest woman I've ever known, Renesmee. You have to go to Alice, and you have to protect Connor. A new world lies just ahead of you, but you have to run the final stretch before you get there," Luke called, as he continued backing away.
"Luke... thank you," Nessie called, eyeing Luke sadly as he grew smaller and smaller in the distance.
"I'll see you both soon. Good luck," Luke said, with a kind smile.
In an instant, Luke was gone, and Edward Cullen took his place before Nessie and Jacob.
There was a moment of stunned silence as Edward stared at his daughter for the first time in six months. But the moment was over quickly, as Edward flung himself forward, wrapping his arms around Nessie tightly, and kissing her hair, as if she may disappear again at any second.
"Renesmee," he gasped, unable to form any other words, as he pulled away, taking her face in his hands.
Nessie stared back at her father in just as much awe. Not a single vision crossed her sight line as she gazed at Edward.
Her blood immediately ran cold.
"Where is Alice?" she asked, her heart pounding rapidly as she realized that the disappearance of the visions was not a good thing.
Edward's eyes had landed on Nessie's swollen stomach as she pulled out of his grasp, and a look of stunned horror remained plastered to his face as he stared back up at his daughter.
"Dad!" Nessie cried desperately.
"I can't believe it's true," Edward muttered, to himself. "I knew it had to be, but I never actually thought about it as a fact..."
"Dad, please. I need to find Alice," Nessie said.
"Renesmee, you're nearly seven months pregnant. I am not taking you anywhere near the battlegrounds," Edward said firmly.
"I have to go to her," Nessie insisted, leaping to her feet. "There's something I have to do. I'm the only one that can..."
"What are you talking about?" Edward demanded, frowning. "How do you know what's happened to Alice? And why are you the only one that can help?"
"There's too much to explain right now," Nessie dismissed, beginning to march off in the direction of the village.
"Alice has been asking for you," Edward said, causing Nessie to stop in her tracks. "Nessie, what is going on? What can you and Alice see that the rest of us can't?"
"The future," Nessie replied.
Edward stood several feet behind Nessie, staring at her curiously. Jacob was right beside Nessie, and she reached back, taking his hand in her own.
"Nessa..." Edward sighed, and there was a pained expression on his face that caused Nessie's heart to ache.
"Trust me, dad. We've been through a lot, and I know what I have to do," she said, with as much conviction as she could muster.
Edward remained silent for a long moment, staring back at Jacob and Nessie with sadness. Finally, he sighed, walking towards them.
"Jacob, I want you to phase and carry Nessie," he said. "Follow me."
Jacob obeyed, quickly running away so as to phase. Edward turned to Nessie, a mixture of pain and confusion across his face.
"I just got you back," he said softly. "Please don't do anything stupid."
At that moment, the russet wolf returned, bending down so as to allow Nessie up onto his back. Nessie hopped on easily, and with a nod to her father, the three were off through the barren snow-land.